Internal combustion engine



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Patented Sept. 5, 1939 UNITED STATES INTERNAL COIVIBUSTION ENGINE Edward S. Dennison, New London, Conn., assignor to Electric Boat C'ompany, Groton, Conn., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 7, 1937, Serial No. 119,422

2 Claims.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines, and has to do with the construction and mounting of the cylinder and associated parts of the engine.

: I have illustrated my invention, by way of example, as applied to a two cycle double acting injection engine, to which it is particularly suit able, though in its broader aspects it comprehends internal combustion engines of other types.

Among the objects of myinvention are the provisionof a cylinder of 'a simple and improved construction, mounting the cylinder in such manner as to accommodate expansion and contraction endwise thereof of those portions of the cylinder which are subjected to considerable heating in the operation of the engine, mounting the cylinder and associated parts in such manner as to permit assembly and disassembly thereof with expedition and facility, and to provide for the transmission of the major stresses incident to operation of the engine to those parts of the engine structure which are of adequate strength to withstand such stresses. Further objects and advantages will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an axial transverse sectional view through the cylinder and associated parts of an engine embodying my invention, taken substantially on line ll of Figure 2, some parts being .0. shown in elevation, and other parts being broken away;

v Figure 21s a lengthwise sectional view through the cylinders and associated parts of a three cylinder engine, taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figure 1, one cylinder being shown in elevation,

a second cylinder being shown in section, and the third cylinder and associated parts being shown in elevation, some parts being broken away and other parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 2, on an enlarged scale, certain parts beingbroken away;

Figure 4 is a sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on line 44 of Figure 1, some parts being broken away and the port belt member being shown, in part, in plan;

Figure 5 is a side view of the cylinder, taken from the inlet port side thereof;

50 Figure 6 is a side view of the cylinder, taken from the exhaust port side thereof;

Figure '7 is an am'al sectional view through the cylinder, taken substantially on line ll of Figure 6, on an enlarged scale;

55 Figure 8 is a central vertical sectional view through the clamping ring and associated sleeve structure, on the same scale as Figure 7;. and

Figure 9 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the enta'blature, on the same scale as Figures '7 and 8. 5.;

I have illustrated myinvention, by way of example, as applied to a two cycle double acting injection en'gine.* 'Thistengine comprises a crank case I0 ofsuitable construction, preferably interiorly provided with frame members I I of elon- ;.0. gated U shape, the bight portions of which provide bearings for the crank shaft (not shown), associated cap members andlining members being provided aboutthe portions of the shaft mounted in:the frame members II, in a known manner.

The top of the crank case 10 may be closed in any suitable or preferred manner. Conveniently, thick metalstrips l2 are secured to the crank case at the sides thereof, as by welding, the upper 20 faces of these strips being flush with the upper ends of arms l3 of the frame members l I. Plates M are welded or otherwise suitably secured to strips l2 and relatively thin plates l5 are suitably secured upo'fi theupper face of plates I4. 25 The plate l5 has 'secured'to the upper face thereof a relatively thick annulus'lli "of steel or other suitable metal defining a rim about an opening through plate It, this opening registering with a similar opening through plate M. A dome mem- 3 0, ber ll, provided at its lower end with an outwardly projecting flange and a short depending flange having an exterior diameter equal to the interior diameter of rim member I'B, seats upon the latter member and is bolted or otherwise suit- 35, ably secured thereto. .Dome member I! accommodates the upper portion of a crosshead member 13 carried by a crosshead 19 operating in suitable guideways within the crank case H]. The construction of the crosshead member and the 40 crosshead and associated parts is disclosed more fully in my copending application for crosshead and piston rod c0n'struction,-Serial No. 127,670, filed February 25, 1937, and need not be further illustrated nor described here. Suffice it to state that a suitable crosshead structure is provided to which the'piston rodof the engine, to be later referred to, is attached. The crossheadmember i8 is pivotally connected, at 20, to a connecting rod 2|, at the upper end of the latter, the lower end of this rod being connected to the crank shaft (not shown) in a known manner.

Brackets 22 are disposed at opposite sides of the respective cylinders, lengthwise of the crank case M). Each of these brackets comprises vertical end sleeves 23 rigidly connected by a web element 24 of I cross section, the lower end of which is disposed a short distance above plate I 5 to accommodate the dome member Sleeves 23 of the brackets seat upon the upper ends of arms I2 of the frame member I it being understood that these frame members are likewise disposed between the cylinders. Plates 4 and I5 are provided with suitable openings through which the lower ends of sleeves 23 extend, fitting tightly through these openings. their lower ends into arms I3 of frame members II, and extend upward through sleeves 23, projecting a considerable distance above these sleeves and having their upper portions threaded.

An entablature 26, shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3, of rectangular shape in plan, seats upon the upper ends of sleeves 23 of the brackets 22. This entablature is provided with suitably disposed bosses 2'! which seat upon the sleeves 23, these bosses being bored for reception of studs 25 which project above the bosses and have securing nuts 28 screwed thereon. The studs 25 thus provide, in conjunction with the nuts 28, means for securing the brackets and the entablature to the arms I3 of frame members II of the crank case I0.

The lower portion of entablature 26 is divided, by transverse web elements 29, into sections 33 which are rectangular in plan. A flange 3| projects inward from the surrounding wall of section 39, adjacent the lower end thereof, this flange being reenforced by webs 32 formed integrally therewith and with bosses 21. Flange 3| is provided, at its inner edge, with a depending flange 33 defining a circular opening disposed centrally of section 30. The upper portion of each section 30 of entablature 2B is formed to provide an upwardly projecting thickened flange 34, which is circular in plan, connected to the surrounding wall of section 30 by an appropriately formed top wall 35 thereof, and provided with a plurality of suitably spaced lugs 36 bored and threaded for reception of securing studs 31. The web elements 32 are formed integrally with top wall 35, as well as with flange 34, and extend therefrom to flange 3| adjacent the bottom of the entablature. Flange 34 is further provided with outwardly projecting tabs 38, at its upper end, two at each side of section 30 of the entablature. This flange 34 defines a circular opening coaxial with and of the same diameter as the opening defined by flange 33 at the bottom of section 30. Flange 34 is provided, in its upper face, with a recess extending from its inner edge and defining a shoulder 39 circular in plan.

Each section 30 of the entablature 26 has mounted therein a cylinder 40. This cylinder is preferably formed in one piece, is thickened at its mid portion to provide a port boss 4|, and is provided, at each end, with a thickened portion providing an end boss 42, the outside diameter of which is less than that of port boss 4|. The latter boss is recessed at each end to provide a shoulder 420. from the inner edge of which a lip 43 projects lengthwise of the cylinder, the exterior diameter of this lip corresponding to the interior diameter of flange 34. The exterior diameter of boss 4| is somewhat less than the exterior diameter of recess 39 of flange 34, for a reason which will be explained presently.

The cylinder 40 is mounted in the entablature in the manner shown in Figure 2. Shoulder 42a, at the lower end of boss 4 I, seats upon the shoul- Studs 25 are screwed at.

der provided by recess 39 of flange 34, preferably with a suitable gasket intervening, and lip 43 extends downward a short distance within flange 34. The portion of the cylinder below boss 4| extends downward through the entablature in spaced relation to the surrounding wall thereof, defining therewith a water jacket about this portion of the cylinder. Boss 42 fits snugly through flange 33, this boss, as well as the upper boss 42, being provided with circumferential grooves which receive rubber sealing rings 44, forming a water-tight closure with flange 33. In this manner, boss 42 has a sealing and sliding fit through flange 33 which accommodates endwise expansion and contraction of the cylinder, while providing against leakage of water between flange 33 and boss 42. Any other suitable known means may be employed for effecting a water-tight closure about boss 42 while permitting endwise expansion and contraction of the cylinder in the manner stated.

A clamping ring 45 fits about lip 43 and seats upon shoulder 42a, at the upper end of boss 4|, This clamping ring is suitably bored for reception of the upper portions of studs 31, the latter being threaded at their upper portions and receiving nuts 46 which cooperate with the studs for bolting the ring to the entablature, to which the boss 4| is thus secured. Ring 45 has associated therewith a sleeve structure comprising a cylindrical body 41 welded at its lower end to the ring and provided, at its upper end, with a relatively thick ring 48 welded thereto. Ring 48 fits snugly about boss 42 at the upper end of the cylinder, this boss having a sliding and sealing fit through ring 48 similar to that provided for the lower boss 42 with respect to flange 33. Ring 45 and the associated sleeve structure define, with the portion of the cylinder above boss 4|, a second water jacket.

Boss 4| is provided with an upper series of exhaust ports 59 and a lower series of exhaust ports 5| disposed respectively above and below the normal plane of the mid-length of the cylinder, each series extending approximately one-half of the circumference of the cylinder and the ports of each series being separated by bridge elements 53a and 5|a, respectively. Boss 4| is provided, at the opposite side of the cylinder, with a series of inlet ports 52 separated by bridge elements 52a, the mid-length of these ports being substantially at the mid-length of the cylinder. The boss is further provided with passages 53 extending therethrough lengthwise of the cylinder, these passages extending through the bridge elements between the ports 50 and 5| and between the ports 52. Passages 53 establish communication between the water jackets below and above the port boss. I

A port belt member 54, which may be in the form of a light casting, fits about port boss 4| of cylinder 49. Member 54 seats upon the upper face of entablature 26 to which it is secured by cap screws 55 (Figure 2) passing through tabs 38 and screwing into the bottom wall of member 54. The latter member is provided with a depending annular lip which fits between port boss 4| and the outer circumferential wall of depression 39 of flange 34, as shown in Figure 2. Member 54 is provided with two interior ribs 55 (Figure 4) which contact the boss 4| between the exhaust ports and the inlet ports thereof, the port belt member thus defining exhaust and inlet passages 56 and 51 respectively communicating with the exhaust and inlet ports of the port boss 4|. The exhaust passage portion of member 54 is water-jacketed, as shown at 58, the end portions of this water jacket being closed by removable fiat closure plates 59. Member 54 is further provided with vertically extending reenforcing bridge elements 68 aligned with the bridge elements 5Ia and 50a between the exhaust ports 5| and 58, respectively, these bridge elements 68 being suitably bored for reception of the bolting studs 31. The bridge elements 68 are further provided, adjacent their outer ends, with passages Bl establishing communication between the portions of water-jacket 58 at the top and near the bottom of member 54. The latter member is further provided, adjacent the outer end of the exhaust passage thereof, with upper and lower lands 62 which cooperate with a three vaned rotary valve 63 for controlling the opening and closing of throat portion 56a of the exhaust passage. Valve 63 is rotated about a horizontal axis and is mounted between the outer end of member 54 and the inner end of an exhaust elbow 64 bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the port belt member and defining a continuation of the exhaust passage 56. Elbow 54 is also water-jacketed, the water-jacket of this elbow being connected to the water-jacket 58 of member 54 by a jumper 65. The upper end of elbow 64 is connected to a neck 66 extending downward from an exhaust manifold 61. An elbow 68 is suitably secured, as by bolting, to member 54 at the outer end of the inlet passage 5'1 thereof, the upper end of elbow 68 opening into an inlet mainfold 59. The mounting of valve 63 and the functioning thereof are disclosed in detail in my copending application for exhaust valve means, and need not be here illustrated nor described in greater detail. Suflice it to note that suitable valve means is provided for controlling the exhaust passage.

A piston 78 operates in cylinder 40, the heads of this piston being of approximately frusto-conical shape, as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. A piston rod H is suitably secured to piston 18 and extends downward therefrom through a stufling box 12 carried by a lower cylinder head l3. -I-Iead I3 is shown as formed in two sections, an upper section 13a which seats in the lower end of cylinder 48, and a lower section 13b in the upper end of which the upper section 13a seats, a suitable seal being provided between these two sections asshown-in Figure 1. Lower section 13b of head I3 is provided with a circumferential series of bosses 14 through which extend screw studs I5 threaded into lower end boss 42 of cylinder 40, these studs cooperating with nuts 16 screwing thereon for removably securing the lower head upon the lower end of the cylinder. This lower head and the securing means therefor are readily accessible between the brackets 22 disposed between the adjacent cylinders, so that this head may be applied and removed with expedition and facility. Piston rod i! also extends through a suitable stuffing box l! at the upper end of dome member l'i, the lower end of piston rod H being appropriately secured to the member l8 carrying cross-head l9.

Preferably, I provide means for preventing leakage, particularly of exhaust gases, between the top wall of the port belt member 54 and port boss 4!. Member 54 is provided in its top wall with an annular recess 18 (Figures 1 and 4) which receives packing material 19 and also receives a flanged follower ring 80 which fits snugly about the upper end portion of port boss 4| and member 54 and the port boss 4|.

The upper end of cylinder 40 is closed by a cylinder head 82 formed in two sections, a lower section 82a seating in the upper end of the cylinder, and an upper section 82b seating upon the lower section 82a with a suitable seal between the two sections. Section 8% is suitably bored for reception of bolting studs 83 secured at their lower ends in boss 42 at the upper end of the cylinder, nuts 84 screwing upon these studs and cooperating therewith for bolting the head 82 to the cylinder.

Both of the cylinder heads are of waterjacketed construction, as shown. Each of these heads is shown as formed in two sections, but they may be formed in any other suitable manner. Upper section ES-a of lower head I3 communicates, through tubes 85 and jumpers 86, secured at their lower ends to the outer ends of tubes 85 and having their upper ends secured to ported bosses 81 at the sides of entablature 26, with the water-jacket defined by the entablature and the lower portion of cylinder 40. A baflle element 88 is provided within the entablature adjacent the inner end of the port or passage extending through each boss 61. The upper end of the cylinder water jacket may be connected to the upper cylinder head in a suitable manner, as by means of jumpers (not shown) similar to the jumpers 86, or in any other known manner. A tube 84 establishes communication between water jacket 58 of port belt member 54 and the water jacket of upper section 821) of head 82, the water jacket of the'two sections of this head being in communication one with the other, as are the water-jacketszof the two sections of the lower head '53. An outlet tube is connected to the water jacket of section 82b of head 82 and communicates at its outer end with a water manifold 96. Thewater jacket of elbow 64 may be provided with an outlet suitably connected topipe 95 or manifold 95. vA water supply tube 91 :is connected to lower section 13b of head 13, as in Figurell, the lower end of this tube opening into. awater supply manifold 98. Cooling water under pressure is supplied to manifold 98, in a suitable manner, as by means of a pressure pump or other suitable means known in the art, whereby cooling water is circulated through the water jackets of the cylinders and associated parts of the engine, the water being returned to the sounrce of supply, for cooling and recirculation, by means of the-return 'manifold 96 or equivalent means. The particular manner of water jacketing the various parts, and of interconnecting them and circulating water therethrough, is not of the essence of my invention and may be widely varied. Suffice it to state that the parts may be suitably water jacketed and cooled. QWhile it is pr'eferred to have the cylinder and associate parts of the engine watercooled' in the manner disclosed, this may not be essential in all cases, in which event the water cooling may be dispensed with.

A fuel injection nozzle 58!] is suitably mounted through the upperhead 82 of each cylinder for sition to accommodate injection nozzles l! and tubes 85, and the jumpers, as well as other fittings of known type commonly provided in enines of this character.

Fuel oil is supplied to the injection nozzles by pumps, one of which is shown at I92 and is supported by a supplemental bracket I03 carried by a bracket 22. The fuel pumps are connected to the injection nozzles and driven in a suitable manner, and have associated therewith means for timing the injection and the duration thereof, all as is well known in the art and need not be illustrated nor described in detail.

The construction and operation of the engine will be understood from the foregoing description. In Figure 1, the piston may be considered as being in its position of maximum compression, with combustion occurring above the piston and the latter about to start on its down stroke. At this time the valve 63 is in open position, the burned gases have been exhausted from below piston 10, and the entering air charge has been deflected by the frusto-conical lower piston head toward the lower end of the cylinder so as to scavenge the cylinder space below the piston and charge it with air. As the piston moves downward, it covers the air inlet ports 52, at which time two of the blades of valve 63 enter upon the lands 62 so as to close the throat 56a of the exhaust passage 56 and maintain it closed until the piston 10, in its continued downward travel, closes the lower series of exhaust ports 5|, after which the blades of the valve 63 pass off of the lands 62. In the continued downward travel of piston 18 the air charge below the piston is compressed, the upper series of exhaust ports 50 are uncovered for exhausting the burned gases, the air inlet ports 52 are then uncovered for scavenging and charging the cylinder above the piston, and fuel is injected through the nozzles IOI, the injected fuel being ignited by the heat of compression. As the piston moves upward, it covers the air inlet ports 52, at which time two of the vanes of valve 53 enter upon the lands 62, closing the exhaust passage and maintaining it closed until the upper series of exhaust ports 50 have been closed, the piston 10, in its continued upward travel, compressing the air charge above the piston and fuel being injected through nozzle I88 at the appropriate time. This completes the cycle, which is repeated during operation of the engine,

In Figures '7, 8 and 9, the clamping ring and associated sleeve structure is disposed coaxially with the cylinder 40 and the associated section 30 of entablature 25, to show more clearly the relation between these parts. The cylinder is insertable into and removable from the entablature by endwise movement, and the clamping ring and associated sleeve structure is positionable upon and removable from the cylinder by movement lengthwise thereof. It will also be apparent, from the preceding description and the drawings, that the port belt member 54 may readily be positioned about port boss 4| and removed therefrom by movement endwise of the boss. This arrangement of the various elements of the cylinder structure and associated parts, in conjunction with the means for securing these parts together, permits of assembling and disassembling the cylinder structure with expedition and facility, and renders possible ready access to the various parts of the structure. The major portion of the stresses to which the engine is subjected in operation are transmitted to the heavier parts of the engine structure, well able to withstand such stresses, the portions of the cylinder subjected to the greatest heating effects are free to expand and contract endwise, and the cylinder of one piece construction presents an uninterrupted rubbing surface for the piston and piston rings.

Conveniently, the cylinder and the entablature are provided, in practice, with known means, not shown, such as a cooperating key and keyway for assuring proper rotative positioning of the cylinder relative to the entablature. Also, I contemplate the provision of suitable means, of known type, for lubricating the cylinder face.

As above indicated, changes in construction and arrangement of parts of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the field and scope of the same, and I intend to include all such variations as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which the preferred form only of my invention has been disclosed.

I claim:

1. In an internal combustion engine, a crank case, spaced brackets extending transversely of the top of said crank case, an entablature seating upon said brackets, means securing said entablature and said brackets to said crank case comprising bolting members secured to the crank case and passing upward through said brackets and entablature, a cylinder provided at its midportion with a port boss seating at its lower end in said entablature, said cylinder being provided with end bosses of less outside diameter than said port boss, a port belt member fitting about said port boss and bolted to said entablature, a clamping ring separate from said cylinder and said boss engaging the upper end of said port boss and bolted to said entablature, said cylinder being otherwise free for endwise expansion and contraction, the lower portion of said cylinder extending through said entablature and defining therewith a water jacket, the boss at the lower end of said cylinder having a sliding and sealing fit in said entablature, a sleeve structure secured to said ring and defining therewith and with the upper portion of said cylinder a water jacket, the boss at the upper end of said cylinder having a sliding and sealing fit in said sleeve structure, a piston operating in said cylinder, and cylinder heads closing the ends of said cylinder and bolted to the end bosses thereof.

2. In an internal combustion engine, a crank case, spaced brackets extending transversely of the top of said crank case, an entablature seating upon said brackets, means securing said entablature and said brackets to said crank case comprising bolting members secured to the crank case and passing upward through said brackets and entablature, a cylinder provided at its midportion with a port boss seating at its lower end in said entablature, the portion of said cylinder below said boss being insertable into and removable from said entablature by endwise movement of said cylinder, said boss being provided at one side thereof with exhaust ports and at its opposite side with av series of inlet portshaving their midlength at substantially the midlength of said cylinder, 9. port belt member mounted about said boss and defining exhaust and inlet passages respectively communicating with said exhaust and inlet ports, means securing said boss to said entablature independently of said bolting means, the portions of said cylinder beyond said boss being free for endwise expansion and contraction, a piston operating in said cylinder, and cylinder heads bolted to and closing the ends of said cylinder, the lower one of said heads being accessible between said brackets. 5

EDWARD S. DENNISON. 

